Film processing tank



' Oct. 13, 1942. w. E. NAYLOR 'HAL 2,298,963

FILM PROCESSING TANK Filed May 18, 1939 INVENTORS WILLIAM E. NA YL OE LAIg YRENCE R. F K

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 13, 1942 FILM PROCESSING TANK William E. Naylor and Lawrence R. Fink, New York, N. Y., asslgnors to Fink-Roselieve Co.

Inc., New York, York N. Y., a corporation of New Application May 18, 1939, Serial No. 274,331

4 Claims.

Our invention relates to receptacles for processing film, and particularly roll or strip film, as something different from film plates, cut film or film packs. Receptacles of this type are commonly referred to as tanks, and the main object of our invention is the provision of a tank which is simple, of sturdy construction, easily assembled and operated, and of small cubic capacity.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a tank having a cover which comprises a plurality of light-tight interfitting members.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a tank having a cover which comprises a plurality of light-tight interfitting members, one of which is part of the film supporting component, or reel, disposed within the tank.

A still further object of our invention is the provision of a film supporting reel which comprises a shaft and a plurality of film discs movably mounted thereon.

A still further object of our invention is the provision of a film supporting reel comprising a shaft, a plurality of film receiving discs, and cooperating means on the shaft to align the discs and secure same. in spaced apart relationship as desired.

A still further object of our invention is the provision of a film supporting reel comprising a shaft, a predetermined number of horizontal recesses thereon, a plurality of film discs and means projecting therefrom, fitting within the recesses, to secure the discs to the shaft in a plurality of predetermined positions.

Other objects of our invention will in part be obvious and in part pointed out specifically in connection with the following description of an illustrative embodiment.

In the drawing annexed hereto'and made a part hereof,

Figure 1 is a vertical section through one form of tank constructed according to and embodying our invention, with parts thereof shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the shaft portion of the film supporting component of our device;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the disc portions;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the shaft on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Reference numeral ill indicates the tank of our invention generally, which comprises casing l2, cover I4 and the film supporting reel li. Casing i2 is preferably circular. The upper portion of the casing wall I3 is provided with an annular channel l5 therein, Fig. 1. Floor I8 is provided with a centrally located upstanding circular stud 20, which is surrounded by a lower discontinuous circular wall 22.

The closure for our new and improved tank invention comprises in part cover [4 and in part a portion of the film supporting'reel l8. Referring specifically to Fig. 1, it will be seen that our cover i4 is of such annular ring shape as to fit on to casing l2, and the outer margins of the cover have formed thereon a pair of concentric downwardly depending spaced finages 24, 2G which interfit with the channeled top of easing wall l3 in a light-tight manner. If desired, cover l4 may fit onto casing l2 so as to revolve freely thereon, but we prefer to force fit cover l4 onto the tank so that same cannot revolve. This is done to reduce the possibility of inadvertently removing the cover during the processing operations, and because agitation of the film supporting reel is otherwise secured. The upper portion of cover I4 is raised, as at H, and a funnel I!) provided thereon, with'a large central open ing 2|. Opening 2| in the neck of the funnel is defined by a downwardly depending wall'23, and a second and concentric wall 25, spaced from and surrounding wall 23, is provided on the underside of the funnel IS.

The film supporting component [6 of our invention comprises a shaft 30 which has formed therein a central circular bore 32 extending the full length thereof. The upper portion 34 of shaft 30 is preferably circular in cross-section, and is tapered near the top thereof, as at 38. A circular platform portion 40 formed integral with the shaft 30, extending outwardly therefrom at the base of the circular portion 34. Platform 40 is slightly inclined downwardly and outwardly, as seenat 42, Fig. 1, and it is provided with a pair of upstanding concentric discontinuous circular walls 44, 46. The inclined nature of platform 40 will cause liquids to fiow ,ofi readily, and staggered openings 48, 50 are provided in the spaced concentric walls 44, 46 respectively, to keep any fiuids from collecting on the platform. Shaft 30 is formed of such length that when it is disposed within casing l2,

the central stud 20 fits into and is received within the bottom end of bore 32, and when the cover I4 is placed in position on the" casing wall IS, the funnel walls 23, 25 interfit with the platform walls 44, 46 to form a light-tight closure which permits the free and uninterrupted flow of fluids into the interior of the casing. An opening 45 may be provided at the outer margin of cover I4, to function as an air vent and as an overflow and pouring passage.

Shaft 30, below platform 40, is substantially circular in cross-section, but is flattened on one side, as 52. The flattening extends from the bottom of shaft 30 to below platform 40. A plurality of horizontal recesses, as grooves 54, are

slightly-larger than the thickness-.of said shaft. Openings- 62 are-just large enough so that the discs Bil m'ayslide easily up and down along the lengthi'of shaftSO although they cannot turn thereon. VI 2 We provide means whereby each disc til may be secured to shaft 30 at any'desired point thereon' so 'that the-dlscs can be arranged to receive film's'of diifere'nt widths. A relatively short strip or: spring -metaL- or other suitable material 68 isprovided,- and crimped or otherwise secured onto-disc 60 against the flat portion 65 of the disc opening. The center of the strip 68 is treated to providea tongue or projection l2 which may extend entirelyacross the spring strip. Suit- -able recessesiifl are provided on the .tops of the hub portions. and the ends it of the strips 68 are bent over to secure: the spring strips to to the discs 60.

As shown in 4, thepressure normally exerted by the tension of spring strips 68, bearing a'gain'st-the-shaft 3D, with the spring tongue 12 fitting within the shaft recess 5%, will serve to securely key the disc to the'shaft If it is desired 'to shift the disc along to the next space,

' or remove same from the shaft entirely, the disc is pressed against the shaft in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4. The pressure will reduce the normal extensio'nof tongue 72, so that the disc may be readily moved out of engagement with the particular recess and shifted as desired.

Discs 60 are provided with the usual film receiving grooves 80, and two or more discs may be used, as indicated in the Fink Patent No. 2,151,907, to receive one or more rolls of film within the tank during the processing operations. With our new arrangement'the receptacle may be filled with and emptied of the processing fluids very quickly, thus making for more uniform development. The shaft bore 32 surrounding stud 28 loosely, enables the. reel as a whole to be rotated freely by manual actuation at upper portion 3% projecting out of cover it. The level of platform 50 is below the top of the casing wall l3, as shown. and the mouth of the funnel porton interfits with platform' lfi. With this ar-= rangement, agitation can be secured without any. special accessories and there is no danger of any light flashes fogging the film.

The circular bore 32 of shaft user to determine the temperature of the tank contents easily by inserting a thermometer thereinto, and the tapered top 36' of shaft 38 facilitates the washing step in the film processing since a rubber hose or tube can easily be secured thereon to direct a flow of water down the bore 32 and outwardly from stud 26, wall 22, and up through the openings 90 in the film discs til. The outer surface of shaft top 36 may be knurled, to provide a grip for rotating the shaft. The centrifugal force of the rotation will operate to cause all fluids poured through funnel 99 to flow into the receptacle. As above stated, however,

platform it is inclined downwardly to provide proper drainage in the absence of rotation.

All the components of our tank can be formed easily and relatively inexpensively. They can be made either of Bakelite, synthetic plastics, stainless steel, etc., but our preferred embodiment, as illustrated, isv made of Bakelite.

Having now described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A film processing tank comprising a casing, a cover therefor provided with a downwardly extending funnel, an annular flange defining the mouth of the funnel, and a film supporting reel disposed within the casing comprising a shaft, having an outwardly extending platform formed thereon, annular upwardly extending concentric walls on the platforms, the funnel flange interfitting with certain of the platform walls in light tight relationship.

2. A film processing tank comprising a casing, a cover therefor provided on the underside thereof with a pair of concentric spaced apart downwardly extending annular walls, a passageway through the center of the cover, and a film supporting reel disposed withln'the casing comprising a shaft having an outwardly extending platform thereon, the platform having thereon a pair of upwardly extending, concentric and spaced apart annular walls interfitting with the cover walls.

3. A film supporting'reel for use in a film pro= cessing tank comprising a casing and a centrally apertured cover therefor, the reel comprising an elongated shaft the upper part of which is adapted to project upwardly of'the tank and through the apertured cover, and the lower part of which extends into the tank, an outwardly extending platform separating the upper and lower portions and interfitting with the cover in light-tight re latlonship, a plurality of recesses in said lower portion, a plurality of circular discs, an opening in each of said discs to receive therethrough the lower portion of the shaft, which opening in each of the discs corresponds in shape to the shape of the lower portion of the shaft and is surrounded by a hub portion, and means on each of said discs secured to said hubs to removably 3t enables the engage the shaft recesses which means cornprise a spring crim'pedi to said hub portion of each disc, having a projection to removably fit the shaft recesses, whereby to secure the discs to the lower portion of the shaft at any desired point thereon between the end and the platform. 4. In a film processing tank, a casing, a cen trally apertured cover therefor, and a device for supporting film for processing within the casing, th device comprising an elongated shaft having a platform formed integrally therewith and projecting outwardly therefrom, a portion of theshaftabove the; platform projecting upwardly through the apertured cover and the shaft below the platform extending into the casing, and a plurality of centrally apertured discs removably keyed onto the lower portion of the shaft from the bottom of the shaft, the apertures in the discs being smaller than the diameter of the platform, and the platform and cover interfitting in light-tight relationship.

WILIIAM E. NAYLOR LAWRENCE R. i 

